---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 383.91"
title: "49"
number: "383.91"
heading: "Commercial motor vehicle groups."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/383.91"
---

# §383.91. Commercial motor vehicle groups.

- (a) **Vehicle group descriptions.** Each driver applicant must possess and be tested on his/her knowledge and skills, described in [subpart G](/cfr/49/subpartG.md) of this part, for the commercial motor vehicle group(s) for which he/she desires a CDL. The commercial motor vehicle groups are as follows:
  - (1) **Combination vehicle (Group A)—** Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
  - (2) **Heavy Straight Vehicle (Group B)—** Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) GVWR.
  - (3) **Small Vehicle (Group C)—** Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Group A nor that of Group B as contained in this section, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in [§ 383.5](/cfr/49/383.5.md).
- (b) **Representative vehicle.** For purposes of taking the driving test in accordance with [§ 383.113](/cfr/49/383.113.md), a representative vehicle for a given vehicle group contained in [§ 383.91(a)](#a), is any commercial motor vehicle which meets the definition of that vehicle group.
- (c) **Relation between vehicle groups.** Each driver applicant who desires to operate in a different commercial motor vehicle group from the one which his/her CDL authorizes shall be required to retake and pass all related tests, except the following:
  - (1) A driver who has passed the knowledge and skills tests for a combination vehicle (Group A) may operate a heavy straight vehicle (Group B) or a small vehicle (Group C), provided that he/she possesses the requisite endorsement(s); and
  - (2) A driver who has passed the knowledge and skills tests for a heavy straight vehicle (Group B) may operate any small vehicle (Group C), provided that he/she possesses the requisite endorsement(s).
- (d) **Vehicle group illustration.** Figure 1 illustrates typical vehicles within each of the vehicle groups defined in this section.

## Notes

### Amendments

[53 FR 27651, July 21, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 47989, Nov. 20, 1989; 61 FR 9566, Mar. 8, 1996; 77 FR 59825, Oct. 1, 2012; 80 FR 59072, Oct. 1, 2015; 86 FR 35640, July 7, 2021]

### Source

Source: 53 FR 27651, July 21, 1988, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 521, 31136, 31301, et seq., and 31502; secs. 214 and 215 of Pub. L. 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748, 1766, 1767; sec. 1012(b) of Pub. L. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272, 397, sec. 4140 of Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144, 1746; sec. 32934 of Pub. L. 112-141, 126 Stat. 405, 830; secs. 5401 and 7208, Pub. L. 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1546, 1593 (49 U.S.C. 31305(d)), sec. 23019 of Pub. L. 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, 777; and 49 CFR 1.87.

### Source

Source: 52 FR 20587, June 1, 1987, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[53 FR 27651, July 21, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 47989, Nov. 20, 1989; 61 FR 9566, Mar. 8, 1996; 77 FR 59825, Oct. 1, 2012; 80 FR 59072, Oct. 1, 2015; 86 FR 35640, July 7, 2021]